On tin lid: "BDC // GIN // PILLS // FOR THE // KIDNEYS // TRADE MARK REGISTERED"; around lower edge of tin: "40 PILLS // PROPRIETARY ARTICLES DEPARTMENT - NATIONAL DRUG AND CHEMICAL COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED, MONTREAL, CANADA"; on bottom: "GIN PILLS FOR THE KIDNEYS // No. 5611 The Proprietary or Patent Medicine Act. Take one or two pills four times a day, before or after meals, and at bedtime [followed by same information in French]"; circular contains a complete description and directions, in several languages.

Permanent Location

Storage Room 0010

0010-A2-5 Row E

Temporary Location

On display, Queen's University Department of Medicine third floor, August 20, 2013.

Small paper trade card for Carter's Backache Plasters; front: green lithograph of a child and his grandpa, with the boy telling him he should use Carter's Backache Plasters; back: tells what it contains, what it helps and so on.

Small paper trade card for Carter's Backache Plasters; front: green lithograph of a child and his grandpa, with the boy telling him he should use Carter's Backache Plasters; back: tells what it contains, what it helps and so on.

Number Of Parts

1

Provenance

Purchased by Dr. Chiong for his patent medicine collection, before July 15, 1995.

Small rectangluar box (a) with glass bottle (b) of Dodd's Kidney Pills with folded paper advertising leaflet (c)e bottom half of box in red ink and top in white, and a dark blue circle on each of the biggest sides with the product name printed in it in white ink; the sides of the box contain a desc…

Small rectangluar box (a) with glass bottle (b) of Dodd's Kidney Pills with folded paper advertising leaflet (c)e bottom half of box in red ink and top in white, and a dark blue circle on each of the biggest sides with the product name printed in it in white ink; the sides of the box contain a description and instructions for the product in English and French; inside the box is a bottle (b) with a white painted metal screw cap and a paper label with the title, manufacturer, lot number, and directions printed in blue and red ink; inside the bottle are four medium sized ovoid orange pills; also in the box is a small folded leaflet (c) on tan paper printed in blue ink which describes the product, includes detailed instructions for its use, and advertises other related products such as Scoot for Athlete's Foot and Hanson's Magic Corn Salve; one side of the pamphlet is printed in English and the other in French.

Fulford Dodds Limited also produced the popular patent medicine, Dr. William's Pink Pills for Pale People.

By the 1970s, Dodd's Kidney Pills were made with ammonium chloride. Before this, they were made with potassium nitrate, sodium bicarbonate, soap, hard paraffin, wheat flour, powedered turmeric, jalap resin, and extract of cascarilla.

Dodds still existed as of 2008 as a patent medicine, though was no longer advertised as a kidney remedy, but relief of back pain and inflammation.

Small round cardboard container of Dodd's Kidney Pills (a) with removable lid (b) and small one promotional sheet printed both sides (c) was folded up tight and placed under the container lid containing a description of the product and its instructions, and advertisements for other products, such a…

Small round cardboard container of Dodd's Kidney Pills (a) with removable lid (b) and small one promotional sheet printed both sides (c) was folded up tight and placed under the container lid containing a description of the product and its instructions, and advertisements for other products, such as Dodd's Antiseptic Healing Ointment, Scoot for Athlete's Foot, Hanson's Magic Corn Salve, Dodd's Dyspepsia Tablets, Diamond Dinner Pills, and Snug Denture Cushions; the container is covered with paper which has the product name and information printed on it in white and dark blue ink with a dark blue background at the top and the top of the sides, and a red background around the bottom of the sides; descriptive and instructive text is printed in English and in French both on the package and on the pamphlet; inside the container are approximately 35 red and pink pills, some of which are decomposing; the decomposing pills left pink residue on the pamphlet, mostly in the corners and on the horizontal centre line; there is a white rectangular sticker on the top of the container, obscuring the title, which reads "CURRY Drugs Brockville".

Fulford Dodds Limited also produced the popular patent medicine, Dr. William's Pink Pills for Pale People.

By the 1970s, Dodd's Kidney Pills were made with ammonium chloride. Before this, they were made with potassium nitrate, sodium bicarbonate, soap, hard paraffin, wheat flour, powedered turmeric, jalap resin, and extract of cascarilla.

Dodds still existed as of 2008 as a patent medicine, though was no longer advertised as a kidney remedy, but relief of back pain and inflammation.

Square amber glass bottle with cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and rounded edges; the bottle has a printed paper label which covers the front and both sides; label lists product information; the bottle is full of about 20 Wonder kidney tablets and is sealed at the neck wi…

Square amber glass bottle with cylindrical neck and a tooled, flanged lip with a flat top and rounded edges; the bottle has a printed paper label which covers the front and both sides; label lists product information; the bottle is full of about 20 Wonder kidney tablets and is sealed at the neck with a cork.

Number Of Parts

1

Provenance

Purchased by Dr. M.Chiong for his patent medicine collection, from Kim Snyder (Toronto) on July 9 1994.

Bottle is complete and has no chips, cracks or wear; the paper label has some minor wear at the edges, but all printing is legible; the cork is missing small sections, but still completely seals the bottle

Copy Type

Original

Reference Types

Book

Document

Reference Comments

"Bottles" by Michael Polak, pp. 19 & 21; label from Dr. Chiong's exhibit, formerly at Bracken Library; a binder of information on Dr. Bell and his company is with Dr. Chiong's written records

Research Facts

Veterinarian Dr. George W. Bell (1858-1927), graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College 1880; practised veterinary medicine in the U.S. for 13 years. Returning to Kingston he established a veterinarian clinic on Brock Street, and continued to produce his patent medicines for use in farm livestock and pet animals under the business name of ‘Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine Company’. Dr. Bell made both veterinary and human remedies.

Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine was used as a sort of "cure all" but especially in the treatment of colic and inflammation and for cough and chills. The ingredients were aconite, belladonna, digitalis and nux vomica (strychnine).

He was principal (1895-1897) for the new Kingston Veterinary College at Queen’s University. By 1919 he was the milk inspector.

The operation of Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine Company was headed by his son. In 1936 when the United States Food and Drug Administration accused Dr. Bell’s Wonder Medicine Company of “misbranding.” Bottles were seized and analyzed under the Food and Drug Act. Labelled at 40 per cent alcohol, the tests concluded the mixture contained between 63 per cent and 65 per cent per bottle. Legal action ensued. In later years, the once-respected and prosperous company was labelled as quackery.